Benz_05TSX

My mom has a 99 or 98 W202 C280. For the last year, whenever the car sits over night or in very cold weather, the car didn't seem to want to shift when it first starts up. I always have to rev it up to 4k rpm before it will shift, but after the first shift, the engine acts normally again and is willing to shift around 1750-2000rpm again. Is there something wrong or is this normal? Thanks/

Benz

benzmodz

The oil is getting thick so to protect the system it keeps the gears low to pump more oil more quickly.

Are you using the right oil for your engine ? Sounds like an indication for servicing the transmission. Maybe the transmission filter is clogged.

Benz_05TSX

I don't know. I brought the car in for service a few months back and mentioned this problem. They said they found nothing wrong with the engine or transmission during service. And we had to leave the car here over night, which, my mom does not want to do.

davis449

Try resetting the transmision and see if that helps. The process, if I remember correctly, is turn the key in the ignition without starting it, hold the gas pedal for five seconds, then turn the key to the off position again. This should do it, but a long, delayed first shift during warm up is perfectly normal. Both my w202 C 280's did this and they both had two different transmissions (the '95 vacuum controlled and the '99 electronic).

E320kieser

delayed shifting is pretty normal after a very cold start as to help warm up the engine faster